Microbial causes of neonatal conjunctivitis

We assessed the microbial causes of neonatal conjunctivitis by comparing 55 infants with purulent conjunctivitis and 60 healthy control infants. A mean of >5 leukocytes per 1000× microscopic field was seen in Gram-stained smears obtained from the more inflamed eye in 77% of 30 untreated patients but none of 57 controls. Pathogens isolated more often from untreated patients than from controls included Haemophilus spp. (17% vs 2%, P=0.01). Staphylococcus aureus (17% vs 2%, P=0.01). Chlamydia trachomatis (14% vs 0%, P=0.01), enterococci (8% vs 0%, P=0.05), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (11% vs 2%, P=0.06). One or more of these pathogens were isolated from the conjunctivae in 58% of patients and 5% of controls (P